MHSAA realignment set for release this week

JACKSON – Twelve teams are playing for MHSAA state football championships this weekend at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson. Some of those teams will have a totally different road to travel to get back here next year.
The MHSAA classification re-alignment will be announced later this week, moving some teams to different classes and different divisions.
A 15-member executive board makes the final decision based on ninth through 12th grade enrollment.
MHSAA executive director Don Hinton hopes the new alignment will be announced Friday.
“There is some change,” Hinton said. “Not anything extraordinary, but there will be some change.”
The state’s two largest classes, 5A and 6A, will have 32 teams each. The MHSAA would like to have 48-50 teams in 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A. Schools have five days to appeal.
One team sure to move from Class 5A to 6A is Starkville. The Yellow Jackets play Pascagoula on Saturday for the 5A championship.
“That’s kind of on the back burner right now,” Starkville coach Jamie Mitchell said. “I don’t know whether we’ll be in the North or South. We were in (6A) two years ago. It’s not a big deal. I think we’ll be competitive in either. ”
ON TV
For the sixth straight year, all six MHSAA state championship games will be broadcast on Mississippi Public Broadcasting. Check your local listings.
RECORD-BREAKer
Noxubee County senior Darrell Robinson has a chance to add to his new state record when the Tigers take on Greene County Saturday at 3 p.m. in the 4A game. Robinson broke former Weir star Dicenzo Miller’s state record of 47 touchdowns last week against Louisville, scoring six touchdowns to give him 49 for the season.
ONE CHANCE TO REPEAT
Class 3A Charleston is the only defending champion making a return trip to Jackson. The Tigers play Hazlehurst on Saturday at 11 a.m. Charleston is making its third trip to the state title game, all three games against Hazlehurst. They spilt the first two.
TEXT TO WIN
Championship schools can win more than a state championship. Game sponsor BlueCross BlueShield of Mississippi is offering $1,000 to the physical education department of the school with the most votes in a texting contest. Go to misshsaa.tv/gridironclassic for details.
Voting began Monday.
TICKET INFO
Tickets can be purchased from the schools for $12. Individual tickets will be $13 at the gate.
brandon.speck@journalinc.com